13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Teardown Reveals Minor Improvements in Accessibility

[croooow]

I would not want to tear down my retina MacBook Pro.

 

[Marcus-k]

I still find amazing that you can not customize a 16GB RAM option on this thing ...

Even on the 15" rMBP i don't find any store selling a 16GB option (besides apple online store, of course).

That's because Apple has soldered the RAM on to make it impossible to upgrade yourself, they wan't you to throw away your Macbook and buy a new one when you need better performance.

 

[Eidorian]

Well at least it has two fans. Right?

 

[gnasher729]

I wonder how de EU will react on the fact you cannot remove the battery yourself, according to EU directives this should be the case on all electronics.

Please quote which directive. Anyone can make this kind of accusation, so please provide some proof.

That's because Apple has soldered the RAM on to make it impossible to upgrade yourself, they wan't you to throw away your Macbook and buy a new one when you need better performance.

You realise how stupid that is what you are saying?

RAM updates are now done exactly the same way as processor upgrades were always done: Via eBay.

 

[ValSalva]

No reason not to have a 16GB RAM option than to push buyers up to the more expensive 15" rMBP

 

[Liquinn]

So this makes my 13" cMBP obsolete?

How will this effect the resale value of my 13" cmbp?

 

[Codyak]

Makes me glad I didn't wait for the 13" specs wise and just went for the 15" out of impatience.

 

[gotluck]

Does iFixit ever take apart computers other than Macs? It seems like their obsessed with Apple.

People don't need that much help fixing regular pc's.. It's much easier.

 

[igazza]

I still find amazing that you can not customize a 16GB RAM option on this thing ...

Its Apples way of forcing you to buy the 15 inch retina.

 

[downpour]

So now there's no more disc drives... Etc and they're lookin thin'n'fit...

Why exactly would one buy a MacBook Air over a MacBook Pro 13 inch???

Is there a difference anymore? What is the point of the MacBook airs now?

The Air has a much higher resolution screen (1440x900 VS 1280x800), it's also thinner, lighter and considerably cheaper.

I'm not really sure what the point of the 13" MacBook Pro is, unless you don't want the benefit of SSD speeds for some reason, or you can't use external storage.

 

[Hakone]

No reason not to have a 16GB RAM option than to push buyers up to the more expensive 15" rMBP

I liked how they coined the 13" as their best selling Macbook model. I'm curious to see how the initial sales of the retina end up.

 

[OtherJesus]

iFixit, why you mad bro? Business bad?

 

[brdeveloper]

Applecare is the answer to all your problems. Might not like it but better option to save your expensive rMBP.

There is no AppleCare worldwide or not so accessible or more accessible than the DIY approach. Is my impression or the SSD is user-replaceable? Putting a 256GB/512GB is mandatory. 128GB in the low end version puts this beast in the category of MBA.

 

[technopimp]

The Air has a much higher resolution screen (1440x900 VS 1280x800), it's also thinner, lighter and considerably cheaper.

I'm not really sure what the point of the 13" MacBook Pro is, unless you don't want the benefit of SSD speeds for some reason, or you can't use external storage.

What machines are you comparing here?

The base 13" Air is $1199, which is all flash storage. The base 13" MBP is also $1199. It does not have an SSD.

The base Retina 13" MBP is $1699.

So if you're comparing the 13" Air to the 13" Retina, I guess all you're getting is 8GB vs 4GB RAM, faster CPU (2.5 vs 1.8) and a technically higher resolution screen (even though you really can't access all the pixels).

 

[hellomms]

I wonder how de EU will react on the fact you cannot remove the battery yourself, according to EU directives this should be the case on all electronics.

Assuming they'll react exactly how they reacted with the Macbook Airs

 

[brdeveloper]

This is the cost of fitting so much in such a small machine. The downside to technological evolution. To the average consumer it won't make a difference though.

Does the average consumer want to pay a huge price for a laptop and even know what 'retina display' mean?

Ok, I agree... Pro consumers should buy high-end Lenovos. Macbooks are for dummies.

 

[Marcus-k]

You realise how stupid that is what you are saying?

RAM updates are now done exactly the same way as processor upgrades were always done: Via eBay.

Did you even read what i wrote? It is impossible to upgrade the RAM yourself, or even for a third party company that works with Macs, since the RAM is soldered on directly to the mainboard. If you want more RAM you have to buy a new rMBP. The processor is of course not upgradeable either.

 

[brdeveloper]

Wonder why you can almost fit a 2.5" SSD in the stock location. Last minute design change?

Waiting for OWC adapters.

 

[spb3]

"noting that while those looking to repair their machines face many of the same challenges seen with the 15-inch model"
I hope there is not that many that are already looking to repair their 13MBPr's.

 

[CausticPuppy]

I like the possibility of using a standard (slim) SSD.

 

[gnasher729]

Did you even read what i wrote? It is impossible to upgrade the RAM yourself, or even for a third party company that works with Macs, since the RAM is soldered on directly to the mainboard. If you want more RAM you have to buy a new rMBP. The processor is of course not upgradeable either.

That's not why I called what you said stupid. I called it stupid because you said "Apple wants you to throw away the rBMP". Don't post stupid things if you don't want them to be called stupid.

And RAM and processor can be upgraded very easily in exactly the same way by using eBay, as I said. If you can't figure out yourself how it is done, I can surely explain it to you.

 

[RMo]

This is the cost of fitting so much in such a small machine. The downside to technological evolution. To the average consumer it won't make a difference though.

Less reparability because of glue instead of screws, crammed components, and awkward placing? Sure. But proprietary screws? No. That's clearly an attempt at preventing other people from trying to fix it.

Applecare is the answer to all your problems. Might not like it but better option to save your expensive rMBP.

AppleCare will not help you if your computer is more than three years old (plus it's expensive), and a lot of people are keeping their computers for longer than this now.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

... they wan't you to throw away your Macbook and buy a new one when you need better performance.

That's right! Because selling it to offset the cost to upgrade would be stupid.

 

[hellomms]

You realise how stupid that is what you are saying?

RAM updates are now done exactly the same way as processor upgrades were always done: Via eBay.

Like how you are calling someone stupid ... whereas your own claim makes absolutely no sense.

 

[HiRez]

iFixit's repairability scores are as eagerly awaited as Trump's "big announcements".